Brexit could be decisive factor in next Scottish independence vote

A majority of Scots would back independence if a second referendum was held after Brexit, according to a new poll.

The research, carried out by Deltapoll for Best for Britain, suggests that the UK’s departure from the EU could be the decisive factor in the next battle over Scotland’s future.

It found that 47% said they would vote ‘Yes’ if the ballot was held after Brexit, with 43% indicating that they would still vote ‘No’, which would put backing for independence at 52% to 48% if the ‘don’t knows’ are excluded from the results.

But if the UK stayed part of the EU, those figures would be reversed, with 43% saying they would vote for independence while 47% said they would back remaining part of Britain.

In both scenarios, 10% of the 1,022 people who were questioned did not know how they would vote.

Meanwhile, 52% of voters in Northern Ireland said they would vote for a united Ireland outside of the UK after Britain leaves the EU, with 39% favouring the province staying part of the UK while 7% did not know. The remainder said they would not vote.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the findings on Scottish independence yesterday, but told Bauer radio in Scotland that it would not accelerate plans for a second referendum ahead of an update on the timetable, due next month.

She said: “It doesn’t change what I’ve already set out on timing, but I think it does show very, very clearly that, with every day that passes right now, people look at the chaos and the shambles at the heart of the UK and as we come perhaps closer to that Brexit cliff-edge, perhaps a no deal Brexit cliff-edge, they see independence as a positive alternative.”

Colin Clark, the Scottish Conservative MP for Gordon, said: “The people of Scotland voted by a significant margin to remain part of the United Kingdom in 2014.

“The body of polling work since then does not suggest any meaningful change in that view.

“It is time to focus on securing the best deal as we leave the EU – one that works for all parts of the UK.”

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